Should I do cardio before or after weights?

Haha, tell that to my fitness tracker! Thanks for all the help, y'all. Putting this into practice tomorrow morning.

That is a great plan, TXguy99! For most beginners, focusing on lifting first to ensure maximum strength and form is usually the way to go. You do not want to be too fatigued for your main lifts.

I always do my cardio after weights. Otherwise, I feel like I do not have the energy to push through my sets properly. Light cardio as a warm-up is fine, but anything intense before lifting just saps my strength.

As a general rule for beginners, prioritise your main goal. If building strength is primary, weights first. If endurance is primary, cardio first. A short 5-10 minute dynamic warm-up before weights, including some light cardio, is always beneficial regardless.

@A4tech, totally agree with you! Going into squats or deadlifts with tired legs from a long run is a recipe for bad form or injury. Proper form over everything else, especially when starting out.

It also depends on the type of cardio. A brisk walk or light jog for 15 minutes as a warm-up is different from a 45-minute HIIT session. The latter would definitely impact your lifting performance negatively if done beforehand.

@GymRat_UK, exactly! I made that mistake once and my entire lifting session felt off. Lesson learned: save the intense cardio for after.

Warm-ups are critical, folks! A few minutes on the elliptical or a rowing machine, followed by some dynamic stretches, can really prime your body for lifting without draining your energy reserves. Do not skip them!

@CoachCelestine, what about if my goal is general fitness and a bit of both strength and endurance? Is there a recommended split for that, or does it still lean towards weights first?

I have found that separating my cardio and weight training on different days works best for me. That way, I can give 100% to each without worrying about one impacting the other. Not always feasible for everyone's schedule, though.

@philosopher, that is a really important distinction! So many people conflate a proper warm-up with a full cardio session. Thanks for clarifying that.

@Push50, separating them is ideal if your schedule permits. It allows for optimal recovery and performance in both disciplines. I have done that in the past and seen great results.

From a Canadian perspective, the winters here mean indoor training often. If you are doing a full-body weight routine, definitely keep the cardio for after. You want to maximise your strength output when it counts.

@CardioQueen, for general fitness, I would still typically recommend weights first. You will get more out of your strength training, which has broad benefits for overall health and metabolism. Then follow up with 20-30 minutes of moderate cardio. That combination is very effective.

Listen to your body, too! If you feel completely gassed after a cardio session and cannot lift effectively, that is a clear sign to switch the order. Everyone is different.

@CoachCelestine, that makes a lot of sense! Thanks for the clear guidance. I often feel like I am trying to do too much at once, so prioritising weights sounds like a solid strategy.

What if I just want to lose weight? Does the order matter as much then? Or should I just focus on consistency?

@GymNewbie, for weight loss, consistency is paramount, but the order can still help. Lifting weights first helps preserve muscle mass while you are in a caloric deficit, which is crucial for a healthy metabolism. Cardio after helps burn extra calories. So, weights then cardio is often recommended for weight loss too.

I have heard some arguments for doing cardio before weights if your main goal is cardiovascular health and you are not worried about optimising strength gains. It is less common but worth considering for specific goals.

@HealthNut, that is true for very specific scenarios, perhaps for competitive runners who want to maintain some strength without impacting their run performance. But for general fitness and strength building, the consensus still leans towards weights first.